Private companies will solicit you trying sell you a copy of your deed. These companies often send official looking letters advertising the government’s recommendation that all citizens have certified copies of their records, such as property deeds. They then offer copies of the records for fees ranging from $89 to $95 or even more.

You can obtain deeds and other official records from the Clerk’s office for $1 per page and they can be certified for an additional $2.

Uncertified copies may be downloaded and printed for free by using the Official Records search on our website. You may also request Public Records, Court Records and Official Records online by accessing the Records/Information Request application on the home page on our website.

The missed jury duty scam has several variations. The caller pretends to be a law enforcement, state attorney or court official saying that you failed to show up for jury duty. They will attempt to impose a fine and threaten you with a warrant for your arrest if you do not pay. Other scammers may ask you to verify your identity by providing your social security number or other information. Do not fall for their threats.

What to know about Jury Duty:

• The Clerk's Office does not call or e-mail for any Jury Duty related manners unless they are returning your call.
• If a resident misses jury duty, the individual could receive a failure to appear notice in the mail from the judge representing their Circuit Court.
• Arrest warrants are not usually issued for failure to report for Jury Duty

If you have questions about Jury Duty, call 239-533-2929 or email jury@leeclerk.org

This scam comes in the form of an email with an attachment referencing a phony missed court appearance. Always use caution when opening unsolicited email and do not open attachments.

This scam has come in a couple of different forms. Someone impersonating a Sheriff's employee may call and demand money in lieu of arrest for an outstanding bench warrant. They may ask you to purchase a reloadable gift card. Of someone may leave a message claiming they are from the Clerk's office advising that you own money on a fake case number.

The Clerk’s office emphasizes that court personnel do not make phone calls with the intent of collecting fees nor to threaten an arrest. Correspondence from court personnel are done primarily through the mail.

False information is circulating on social media about how to obtain a free passport. The fee waiver Form I-912 referenced in the social media video is for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) purposes, not for passport services. This is NOT a Department of State form, and the Clerk’s office is prohibited from honoring fee waiver requests. Please visit the Passports webpage for information on applicable passport fees.

Property fraud is one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes in the United States. Criminals file fake deeds or other land records to appear as if they own property that is not actually theirs, and then they deceive people into giving them money to buy or rent those homes.

Visit our Property Fraud page to sign up for this free service and protect yourself from becoming a victim.

We have retained the law firm of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP ("LGBS") to assist in resolving delinquent cases, and you may receive text messages from Linebarger. Be aware that there have been recent scam attempts to impersonate various government entities and their collection agents. Any text from Linebarger will originate from the following short code phone number: 98023. Scammers may attempt to spoof a 5-digit or 6-digit short code, but their texts will have a full phone number included (sometimes with a Country Code), and are usually sent to groups of people with no specific recipient name.

A Linebarger text will always include your name, an account-specific reference number, a toll-free call-back number, a link to Disclosures and Frequently Asked Questions, and a link to payment website.  

If you have any concerns about a collections text received from Linebarger, please contact them directly at 1 (888) 574-1028. The call center is open Monday through Thursday 8 AM – 10 PM ET; Fridays 8 AM-6 PM ET; and Saturdays 9 AM-1 PM ET.